Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 
    
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Computer Science (Accelerated)


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The accelerated degree program (ADP) gives an opportunity to undergraduate students in the Computer Science Department to complete the requirements for the master’s degree at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may count up to 12 (but not fewer than 6) credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies toward a master’s degree in Computer Science within 24 months after the completion of their bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. These students may choose to pursue a master’s degree in Computer Science under either the Thesis Option or the Non-Thesis Option.

This program will allow an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science to complete an accelerated master’s in Computer Science by completing either 140 combined undergraduate/graduate credit hours (if choosing the Thesis/Project Option), or 143 combined undergraduate/graduate credit hours (if choosing the Course-Only Option).

Application to the Accelerated Degree Program


A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission) must set up a meeting with the CS undergraduate advisor and the graduate advisor to develop Plans of Work for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

The prospective student must be given a copy of these guidelines.

Before admission to an ADP can be finalized, students must submit the standard application for admission to the Office of Admissions/Graduate Admissions including:

  1. An application
  2. Application fee
  3. Copy of all transcripts
  4. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
  5. A Plan of Graduate Work, signed by the prospective student, the undergraduate program director and the graduate program director.

The Plan of Graduate Work for the Master’s degree must clearly indicate:

  1. the 5000-level courses (a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours) that will be counted for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees,
  2. the graduation date for the master’s degree that meets the time limit for the ADP (i.e. obtaining a master’s degree in Computer Science within 24 months of completing the bachelor’s degree). Any changed to the ADP Plan of Graduate Work must be submitted in writing and approved by the graduate program director and graduate dean.

 

Criteria for Admission to the Accelerated Degree Program


Permission to pursue an ADP does not guarantee admission to the Graduate College. Admission is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program:

  1. Students must have completed a minimum of eighty (80) and a maximum of ninety-six (96) credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement.
  2. Transfer students must have completed, as a full-time undergraduate student at WMU, a minimum of 15 WMU computer science credit hours and a minimum of 30 WMU credit hours.
  3. Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 at WMU and 3.5 in Computer Science classes.
  4. International students must clarify their visa status with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services before submitting an admission application.

Admission to the ADP does not guarantee admission to the Graduate College. However, successful completion of an undergraduate degree under and meeting the grade criterion of 3.00 will ensure admission to the Graduate College.

 

Requirements for Participation and Graduation


1. Students must complete the bachelor’s degree prior to entering the master’s program. Students in the ADP may not elect to by-pass the bachelor’s degree.

2. Students will be allowed to count only a maximum of twelve (12) 5000-level credits taken during their undergraduate studies toward their master’s degree. These credits should be registered as graduate credit and will be waived from their master’s degree.

3. ADP students enrolled in the B.S Degree in Computer Science (General Option) must take CS 4310, Design and Analysis of Algorithms; and CS 4800, Theory of Computation I, or their equivalents offered by the department.

4. Students must receive a grade of B (3.00/4.00) or better in the 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies. Courses with a grade of CB or below cannot be counted toward their master’s degree.

5. Students who do not meet the grade criterion of 3.00 will have the earned grade applied to their undergraduate program only, assuming that the earned grade meets requirements for the undergraduate program. Students who do not meet the grade criterion as part of the ADP program must apply for readmission into the graduate program.

6. Students who complete the undergraduate degree including a “B” or above in the specified 5000-level graduate courses will be admitted as graduate students (with the relevant graduate credit) in the next semester or session after receiving the bachelor’s degree.

7. No more than twelve (12) hours of graduate work may be counted towards the requirements of the student’s bachelor’s degree.

8. Students must complete the master’s degree within 24 months from the completion of the bachelor’s degree. If the master’s program is not completed within these time limits, none of the 5000-level courses specified in the Plan of Graduate Work can be counted toward the master’s degree. The graduate program director only in special circumstances may grant extension to this time-line.

 

Continuing Eligibility


1. It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status.

2. A student completing the bachelor’s degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.25 is automatically terminated from the ADP program.

3. A student who does not follow the approved Plan of Graduate Work may become ineligible to participate in the ADP program.

4. A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from) the ADP can no longer qualify for waiving any of the courses specified in the Plan of Graduate Work toward a master’s degree. These courses, however, may be counted towards the student’s bachelor’s degree upon discretion of the undergraduate advisor.

5. A student, who becomes ineligible to participate in the ADP, shall be informed by the graduate advisor in writing of the ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student shall be sent to the Graduate College.

Withdrawl


A student may at any time withdraw from an approved ADP by informing the director of undergraduate programs and the graduate advisor in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the Graduate College for approval.

Eligible Courses for the Accelerated Degree Program


To select courses for the ADP, students will work with their undergraduate advisor and the graduate program director, who will decide which credits in the current undergraduate curriculum, the ADP credits will replace. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure they have completed all needed prerequisites for the courses they wish to elect for use by the ADP. The following is the list of the current 5000-level courses from which students will elect their twelve (12) credit hours for the ADP administered by the Department of Computer Science:

Note:


Recall that these 12 credit hours must be taken for graduate credit at the time of enrollment.

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